hoping the new year will bring some sunshine !

I sat down last night and sort of made a list of what has happened to me ( good & bad ) the past year.

I have a Jan 19th Appointment with the small claims clerk, to fill for a hearing.( against Mer & Monde ).....another expense and lost time I could life without.

The Japanese restaurant where I exposed my entire ''koi '' collection is closed ??
I tried to call last evening to schedule a pickup of the paintings for the first week of January. ( yes I have a contract )....but it's NOT looking good.* sigh*........As things are going.......I would not be surprised at the worst.

As far as the place I started working for one 1/2 months ago ( and I am still waiting for my pay )....I finally was lucky to get a contact the 24th....and talked to someone.
I admit I lost my cool...and told them to ''stuff '' the job.......oops....yes I know...but NOT paying me...before Christmas....wasn't a '' small '' thing.
I was counting on this for some holiday food, a couple of tubes of paints..part of my upcoming rent...not big expenses..and not luxury.

I am lucky...I had bought and cooked some dishes...2 weeks ago....but I am left with 0$....

I am numb.......I am beyond being mad, disappointed, ......I just feel nothing !

I am wishing.....( somehow ) the new year will bring some sunshine to my life.
I still do NOT understand why this is all happening to me....( the list is so long......you would not believe all )

The best time of the passing year was...my 4 months of painting..full time.
Doing the painting For The Kennair Foundation,
And my 2 small fishing trips.

Interesting week....

Well this week was filled with lots of emotions.
Started a new job. ( NOT at all what I thought it would be ), but I am grateful to work.

Got a call from my gynecologist ( his secretary ) And was asked to go see him ASP..........And it had been over 1 week that they were trying to get a hold of me on the phone.
I have ''abnormal results '' this is all the secretary could tell me.
To make things more interesting....Th Dr. Was off all week..so I could not know more, he will be back on Wednesday the 9th Dec.

Next.......

I sometimes '' Google '' my name....to see if the search engines catch my ''meta tags ', from my web site.
I stumbled onto MER & MONDE.
I had dealt with this editor back in 2002 -2003.
They was selling cards from some of my paintings...and I was supposed to get a % of the sales.
I never received any % So I asked them if they were really selling them .
They told me that they never sold one....ok.....
I sent them an email and spoke on the phone with them to cancel my contract.
Contract was canceled.......in 2004-2005 ?

2 Years ago I was shopping with a friend.......and she needed some gift cards..
We entered a boutique ( gifts & cards ) ...and she screamed to me.....Lucie ! look !
I was stunned.....my cards where on display ! what?????
I asked the sales lady who fortunately was the manager...just how long they have been dealing with the Editor......and how long ( my ) the cards were up for sale.

She told me about 4 years...
I asked her to call the representative..( after I told her who I was..and the short story )
She called...and passed me the phone.......I told the representative to have someone call me back ASP.

I bought 5 of ''my '' cards.and so did my friend.

Now back to what I found Tuesday morning........( googling my name )

http://artsprints.meretmonde.com/?id=31&titre=Lucie_Theroux&em=2

Now this is going a bit TOO far.........they re-edited my art...and 2 of them..I never.but never sent or gave them permission to edit.
They do not even post my ( new as of 3 years ago ) website URL ?......what a joke !

WTF ??
I mean..YES...in a way it is flattering...but in another way...I never but NEVER gave my permission to edit them. I t was NOT a life-time contract.
And...I would like some sort of commission..........right ?
And....why as they told me....( didn't sell ) are they selling them again..?

So now....I have to write up a'' legal '' letter...and ask for their financial assessments from year 2002 to 2009.
They can not say they never sold any..I still have the 5 I bought.
And tell them to take me off the website.....and to pay me an amount.
If they do not do this.I have to see a Lawyer to get an injunction for this to happen.
Then court.

Why do theses things always happen to me....I mean..I am not a world-wide famous artist ?

Interesting week...right ?

on to new things !

and a bit of self promotion.....well...because I have to... :)

First....I have to say a big thanks to the photograph Kev Holman........for the photo of the Canadian goose ....I will be doing this middle January.......after I do 1 or 2 other painting to get my hand and mind back in ''paint mode '' Thanks Kev !!!

Second...........I am happy to say I finally found a job..and just in time !
and third..( self promotion part )


I have 5 packs of 10 post carda left of a painting I did last Sept.
price....10 $ ( s & h included ) This will pay for my bus fare to go to my new job. :)

And last.......... all my prints at AK.........ARE AT 15 % .....code : LTO9

THANKS ! :)

Asthma attacks !

All was going well..till at supper yesterday......I was feeling nauseated....dizzy..and could not seem to have any air...I went outside to get some air...* wrong *...the cold air set up an asthma attack...

JUST Great !

I came back in....feeling worst of course....my inhalers didn't work....so I went to the Hospital ER.
I didn't wait long...........they took me in right away.
I knew I was having an attack......but little did I know it was a combination of 2 things.
As soon as I could speak....without choking up I answered there questions.

They asked me....the list of the meds I was taking....
When I said I had stopped the cortisone pills.2 days ago..they looked at me...with blank faces.
I said what.......whats wrong ?

They told me my BP was extremely low...and That is a symptom of Prednisone withdrawal. ( cortisone )
eh ??? No one told me told me about that.......
I had stopped first : because I was feeling better....and 2nd : I was feeling like a smoking frog...ready to pop...( I was all swollen )

Well next time tell me this....sheshhh.......( I hate pills !!!! )

Ok...now I got treated with intravenous corticosteroids, inhaled reliever medication (bronchodilator) and oxygen.
Then they watched my progress with spirometry, peak flow monitoring and oximetry.


Let me go home at about 55 % of lung capacity.
I walked home......and went to bed....still shaking form all the meds.

Now I will tell you about the ''red zone'' for Asthma.
Go to the closest Hospital.

· Excessive coughing
· Excessive wheezing
· Extreme tightness in the chest
· Extremely laboured breathing
· Sweating
· Gasping voice
· Pale or blue lips or fingernails
· Anxiety or fear
· Decreased activity level
· Reliever medication does not seem to be working to relieve the symptoms



If you are undergoing a treatment that involves dosages of prednisone, you should be careful not to withdraw the dosage suddenly.
Once we start taking prednisone dosages, our body reduces/stops production of cortisol depending upon prednisone volume.
If the dosages are stopped suddenly, it can be fatal for the health as there is no production of cortisol in the body and the external supplement is also stopped.
This condition is also known as Addisonian Crisis or Adrenal Crisis. Prednisone withdrawal should be gradual which will help the body start producing cortisol required for various functions in the body.

Steroid withdrawal symptoms can mimic many other medical problems. Weakness, fatigue, decreased appetite, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (which can lead to fluid and electrolyte abnormalities), and abdominal pain are common. Blood pressure can become too low, leading to dizziness or fainting. Blood sugar levels may drop.


So I am back on these darn pills again...... :(

I hate one side effect; ( as all women ......I am sure )

Weight gain is the most common side-effect of prednisone. Fluid retention is the main culprit when it comes to weight gain. Another related prednisone side-effect is accumulation of extra fat in the body. This fat gets deposited in particular areas like the back, abdomen and face. The weight gained due to prednisone is lost after cessation of use of steroids.

Take care of your Asthma........get it monitored.

Have a good day everyone....
I will take a nap later on....but I have tons to do today.

Specifications of Prints

Last week at the painting Symposium, I was giving out cards ( eyes of the future reproductions )
One artist that was in the booth beside me was asking about prints, limited prints, open editions ect.....
We started a conversation on this.and 2 more joined us.
2 were professional artists..and have had prints edited .
After searching the web, later at home.....I have to agree with this.

I wrote down some information and decided to share theses with you.


What does the print's number mean?

Each print has two numbers, which appear like this on the print:

The bottom number (in this example, 400) refers to the number of prints in the edition. The top number ( or left side ) (26) means that this is the 26th print in a series of 400 prints. Once the stated number of a limited edition has been reached, no more prints are made from that original image. Both the artist and the printer destroy all high-resolution scans of the image, ensuring that no more prints are made. An OPEN edition means that there is no limit to the number of prints produced from the same original image.


What does "Limited" mean?


Limited refers to the bottom ( or right side )number of the print. Once that number is defined, which it must be before the series is printed, more copies of the print cannot be made. The print has had its quantity LIMITED, or prescribed.


Is a Limited Edition Print as valuable as an Original Painting?


No, an original painting is more valuable because it is one of a kind - literally the ORIGINAL.

What is the relative value of different types of prints?

A LIMITED edition is usually much more valuable than an OPEN edition.A smaller limited edition (eg. 40) is usually more valuable than a larger limited edition (eg. 4000) Prints that have the artist's original signature are more valuable than an unsigned or mass-printed artist's signature edition. As always, it depends upon supply and demand.






Does the Artist hand-sign each print?



Yes, each print is individually hand-signed and hand-numbered, in pencil or acid free pens ( depending on the paper ), on the bottom of each print. The number appears on the bottom left; the signature appears on the bottom right.
The artist must have a signature and not an Inicial ( eg : LT ...in my case )
Why ?
This is the statement that the artist approved the prints and they are legal. ( like signing any documents , checks, contracts )
The signature on the prints must be the same as on the Certificate of Authenticity that comes with the print., thus Identifying the Artist.

What is the difference between a painting and a print?


With the sophistication of modern printing methods, it can be difficult to differentiate between an original painting and a print. Under a magnifying glass, you should be able to see the fine dot pattern that is distinctive for a print. The original painting will not have a dot pattern.



Is a print a good investment?




Yes. The investment value of these prints is enhanced by their limited number and by the artist hand-signing and hand-numbering each individual print which is produced. They are not as valuable as the original painting, but will still be a valuable collector's item. In most cases, a limited edition print will increase in value in the same way as an original. For example, a 1984 limited edition print by wildlife artist Terry Redlin sold for $600. Now the same print sells for $2,800.



How should my print be framed?







It is very important for your print to be "Conservation Framed". This method uses acid-free board, tape and glue. Any reputable framer will know about Conservation Framing. It is suggested that the prints be framed behind glass. It is customary to leave a small margin of white space between the printed area and the edge of the framing mount board. This margin of white space is where the signature and number of the print appear.


How does light affect my print?

Bright daylight and even bright artificial light can cause colors to fade and papers to discolor and become brittle. Too much light is harmful even when ultra-violet rays are filtered out; so make sure your print is exposed to moderate light for limited hours at a time. Don’t place prints on walls that receive direct outside light for any length of time. Think, too, of rotating your prints from time to time to give them a rest. Strong light has serious effects on prints, with ultraviolet light causing colors to fade and change. Using UF3 Plexiglas instead of normal glass will reduce light damage.

Hope this will be helpful to you :)

I only have 12 Artists for my art exposition in the church basement for the 12 th & 13 th Dec.
I was hoping for more.
I will wait another week..then decide if I will cancel or move the date to February.
12 is not enough to be considered a '' serious '' exposition. The place will have an ''empty '' felling ....and this is not good for selling.
Funny...........people like crowds....and to hide in them.

I saw this weekend...some people don't look at the artist...but the art. As if they do not want to be solicited and pressured to buy.
I think they do not know........that art cries out different to each individual.......and as Artists we can not impose this on anyone.
You like it..or you don't.

I have a job interview this afternoon....walking to it...lol......I can not afford the bus fare.
Hope it works out......at my age.it is VERY hard to find a job.

Ten Commandments of Art Pricing

I found this interesting..
I have been lowering my prices..to eat and pay my upcoming December rent ( hopeful thinking )
I feel like I have been unfaithful to those who bough my painting at the '' normal '' price.
From now on....I will follow theses rules :

Robert Genn's Ten Commandments of Art Pricing

• Thou shalt start out cheap.
• Thou shalt publish thy prices.
• Thou shalt raise thy prices regularly and a little.
• Thou shalt not lower thy prices.
• Thou shalt not have one price for Sam and another for Joe.
• Thou shalt not price by talent or time taken, but by size.
• Thou shalt not easily discount thy prices.
• Thou shalt lay control on thy agents and dealers.
• Thou shalt deal with those who will honour thee.
• Thou shalt end up expensive.

Now for my weekend.......I gathered some friends to help me pay for a Painting Symposium the 14 th & 15, at a large shopping centre in Quebec City.

I didn't sell anything....* I am a bit sad...*....but the experience was well worth the money I have to pay back.

Rent will have to wait...going to job interviews will be by foot not by bus...will eat once a day.
Small sacrifices to be an artist.